FR2660455A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING A COMPARTMENT WITH TREATMENT PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY FROM A LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE. - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR91/00270 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 3, 1991 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 3, 1991 PCT Filed Apr. 3, 1991 PCT Pub. No. WO91/15623 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 17, 1991.A method and a device for supplying doses of various treatment products to at least one compartment of a processing machine, in particular a compartment (2) of a washing machine (1) using doses of various liquid textile treating products (8). Each product is supplied by means of a separate transfer device (17), and the machine goes through an operating procedure which involves generating a single control signal at predetermined times in the course of the treatment, combining the series of identical control signals with a selective transfer device (17) control program, and selectively controlling, according to the program, the transfer device as the control signals appear during the machine's operating procedure.

Description

SUPPLY METHOD AND DEVICE

  A COMPARTMENT IN TREATMENT PRODUCTS

  IN PARTICULAR OF A LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE

  The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement

  sitive for supplying at least one compartment of a treatment machine with doses of different treatment products, in particular of a compartment for a washing machine in doses of different

  liquid treatment products for the latter.

  When treating laundry in a washing machine with a single compartment or in a washing machine of the tunnel type with several compartments, which generally comprises, in particular, a first prewash period, a second washing period,

  a third rinsing period, introduced into the comparator (s)

  timents of the machine, at predetermined times during its operating process, doses of different products

treatment.

  To manage the operating process, industrial washing machines are provided with control members which generally include a driven strip provided with perforations associated with means for detecting these perforations. Each line of perforations is associated with a particular member to be controlled by the washing machine, for example the drum drive motor, the water supply or drain valves When you want to change the laundry treatment cycle, use a

  strip provided with perforations having a different configuration.

  Currently, with a view to supplying the washing machine with different treatment products, the aforementioned strip is provided with several lines of complementary perforations which are respectively associated with the treatment products and which make it possible to control the introduction of the different products.

  of treatment at predetermined times in the treatment process.

  In addition, the length of each of the perforations determines the duration of operation of the means which allow the introduction of each.

  treatment products in the washing machine.

  However, such provisions are particularly restrictive and lack flexibility. Indeed, for each treatment process, the number of perforated strips must be multiplied so that a program is associated with each.

  particular supply of treatment products.

  The object of the present invention is in particular to remedy these drawbacks. The method according to an object of the invention makes it possible to supply at least one compartment of a treatment machine

  in doses of different treatment products, including a comparison

  timent of washing machine in doses of different liquid laundry treatment products, each product being supplied using a particular means of transfer and the machine being

  subject to an operating process.

  The method according to the invention consists in generating, at predetermined times during the process of operating the machine, an identical control signal each time; associating with the succession of identical control signals a program for selective control of said transfer means; and to selectively control, in accordance with said program, the transfer means as the signal signals appear.

  order during the processing process.

  According to the invention, it is particularly advantageous to associate with the succession of identical control signals, several programs for selective control of the transfer means,

  to select one of these programs, and to command selecti-

  In accordance with the program chosen, the transfer means as the control signals appear during

of the treatment process.

  The method according to the invention preferably consists in counting the control signals and in memorizing the number of control signals which appeared from the start of the operating process.

of the machine.

  The method according to the invention may advantageously consist in controlling each of the transfer means so that they supply predetermined volumetric quantities of

product.

  The subject of the present invention is also a provision

  feed sitive particularly suitable for implementing the aforementioned method According to the invention, this device comprises means for generating a control signal at predetermined times during the operating process of the machine, means for storing a program for selective control of the transfer means, control means connected to said means successively generating a control signal and to said storage means and selectively controlling said transfer means in accordance

to the stored program.

  According to the invention, said storage means are preferably suitable for storing several control programs and that it further comprises selection means

  to select one of these programs.

  The device according to the invention preferably comprises means for counting and storing the number of control signals generated from the start of the machine operating process, these means being connected to the means for storing

  program and the aforementioned control means.

  According to the invention, each transfer means preferably comprises a flow meter for measuring the volume of product

introduced into the machine.

  The device according to the invention may also comprise programming means making it possible to constitute the programs for selective control of the transfer means and / or to fix the

  volumetric quantities of product to be supplied.

  According to the invention, the means for controlling the operating process of the machine can advantageously comprise a perforated strip, said means for generating a control signal comprising means for detecting perforations produced in said strip and arranged in an aligned direction. of

scrolling of this strip.

  The present invention will be better understood from the study of a washing machine equipped with a device for supplying its compartment with various liquid treatment products.

  linen, described by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated diagrammatically

  tick by the single figure attached.

  In the example shown, the washing machine 1 comprises a washing compartment 2 in which a drum is provided

not visible in the figure.

  This machine 1 is subjected to a control member 3 which manages its operating process and which controls, for example, the drum drive motor, possibly at different speeds, the water supply members, the members

  evacuation, treatment temperatures.

  To generate the operating process of the machine 1, the member 3 is equipped with a strip 4 which has different lines of perforations 5 associated respectively with the members to be controlled by the machine 1 The perforated strip 4 is driven by a member for drive not shown which allows it to scroll at constant speed in front of detection members 6 of the different lines of perforations 5 These detection means 6 are optical or mechanical In general, they

  control the organs of the machine when they detect the perfo-

  rations, the length of the latter determining the duration of

  operation of machine components.

  The washing machine 1 is equipped with a feeding device.

  mention of different liquid laundry treatment products,

  generally identified by reference 7.

  In the example shown, the device 7 comprises four reservoirs 8 to 11 which each contain a different liquid treatment product. The reservoirs 8 to 11 are respectively connected to a conduit 12 connected to the compartment of the washing machine 1 via parallel pipes 13 to 16 on which transfer pumps 17 are respectively provided

to 10 and flow meters 21 to 24.

  The supply device 7 further comprises an electronic control circuit 25 which allows the control of the pumps 17 to 20 and which receives the flow information supplied.

by the flow meters 21 to 24.

  The supply device 7 also comprises an electronic circuit for storing control programs which is connected to the control circuit 25 as well as a program selector 27 which is connected to the electronic control circuit

  and to the electronic storage circuit 26.

  The supply device 7 further comprises a detector 28 which makes it possible to successively detect, during the travel of the perforated strip 4, perforations 29 produced on a line 30 of this strip 4 at predetermined locations with respect to the various perforations 5 managing the operating process of the washing machine 1 The detector 28 provides, at each detection of a perforation 29, a control signal

  each time identical to the electronic control circuit 25.

  The perforations 29 therefore constitute a program of control signals established as a function of the operating process of the

washing machine 1.

  Each control program contained in the storage circuit 26 is designed so that it makes it possible to associate the succession of identical control signals supplied by the detector 28 with the passage of the succession of perforations 29 when the strip runs. 4, a particular program for selective control of the pumps 17 to 20 and of the determined quantities of the

products to be supplied to the machine.

  Thus, at each control signal supplied by the detector 28 during the detection of the perforations 29, each control program contained in the program storage circuit 26 can provide for the absence of control of the pumps 17 to 20, the control of the '' one of the pumps for the supply of a determined quantity of the liquid contained in the tank associated with this pump or the control of several of the pumps for the supply of a determined quantity of the liquid contained in the tanks

  associated with them respectively.

  Of course, the electronic control circuit

  starts the pump (s) to be controlled and stops their function-

  when the associated flow meter indicates that the

  programmed volume of liquid is supplied to the washing machine 1.

  To understand how the device works

  power supply 7, we will now describe examples.

EXAMPLE 1

  The strip 4 has perforations 5 allowing a process for operating the washing machine 1 or treatment cycle for the laundry contained in its compartment 2 which successively comprises a washing period, a rinsing period and a spinning period. provided on the strip 4 comprises two aligned perforations 29, one in the middle of the washing period

  and the other at the start of the flushing period.

  It is only desired to introduce a quantity V1 of a washing product contained in the reservoir 8 at the start of

the washing period.

  The storage circuit 26 contains a program P1 designed so that on reception of the first signal

  command provided by the detector 26 when the first perfo-

  ration 29, the control circuit 25 starts the pump 17 and stops the latter when the flow meter 21 indicates that the volume Vl of the product is supplied to the machine, and so that upon reception of the second control signal supplied by the detector 28 during the passage of the second perforation 29,

  the control circuit 25 does not control any of the pumps 17 to 20.

  The operator having mounted the perforated strip 4 on the control member 3 of the washing machine 1 and selected the program P1 on the program selector 27, he starts the washing machine 1 during the running of the strip 4, the operating process of the latter is managed by the perforations 5 and the process for supplying treatment product is managed by the perforations 29 in accordance with the program Pl selected

described above.

EXAMPLE 2

  In addition to introducing the volume Vl of the product contained in the tank 8 at the start of the washing process, it is desired to introduce a volume V 2 of the product contained in the tank

  9 in the middle of the rinsing process.

  The operator then selects another program P 2 such that at the first signal provided by the detector 28 on passing to the first perforation 29, the control circuit 25 controls the pump 17 and stops when the flow meter 21 that the volume Vl is supplied and that at the second signal supplied by the detector 28 when the second perforation 29 passes, the control circuit starts the pump 18 and stops the latter when the volume V 2 of the treatment liquid contained in the reservoir 9

is provided.

EXAMPLE 3

  It is desired to wash the laundry contained in the compartment 2 of the machine 1 according to a treatment process which in particular successively comprises a prewash period, a washing period and a rinsing period. 1 a perforated strip 4 having

  perforations 5 managing such a process.

  This strip is also provided with a succession of perforations 29 which are provided in correspondence with the perforations, at the start of the prewash process, at the start of the

  washing and at the start of the rinsing process.

  At the start of the prewash process, you want to

  fill in the machine 1 of the volumes V 3 and V 4 of the products contained in the tanks 10 and 11 and, at the start of the washing process, it is desired to introduce into the machine 1 a volume V 1 of the product

contained in the tank 8.

  The storage circuit 26 contains a program P 3, which the operator selects with the selector 27, such that on receipt of the first control signal supplied by the detector 28 when the first perforation 29 passes, the control circuit 25 starts the pumps 19 and 20 respectively and stops the latter respectively when the flow meters 23 and 24 indicate that the volumes V 3 and V 4 are supplied, such as on reception of the second signal supplied by the detector 28 during the passage of the second perforation 29, the control circuit 25 starts the pump 17 and stops the latter when the flow meter 21 indicates that the volume Vl of product 8 is introduced, and such that, when the detector 28 provides a control signal during the passage of the third perforation 29, the control circuit 25 does not control any of the pumps 17 to 20.

EXAMPLE 4

  The programming circuit 26 comprises a control program P 4 which takes up the control program P 'and which also makes it possible to introduce a volume V 2 of the product contained in the reservoir 9 during the passage of the third perforation 29 of the

strip 4 'in front of the detector 28.

  As can be seen in the figure, the feeding device

  tation 7 further comprises a programming circuit 31 provided with a programming keyboard and connected to the storage circuit 26 and to the selector 27 With the aid of this programming circuit 31, the operator manufactures the programs for selective control of the pumps as a function of the perforations 29 of the strips 4 and fixes the volumetric quantities of the treatment products to be supplied to the washing machine 1 Thus, the operator can adapt to his choice the program for supplying treatment products according to the linen that it has to process and the washing machine operating process 1 It can for example modify the quantities of treatment products to be supplied in an order program

pumps already established.

  The supply device 7 further comprises a counting and memorizing circuit 30 which allows the counting of the control signals supplied by the detector 28 from the start of the processing process generated by the strip 4 Thus, if this processing process is stopped, for example because of a cut in the electrical supply circuit of the washing machine 1,

  the control device 7 can then resume the feeding process

  tation of liquid treatment products during refurbishment

  route to machine 1, where it was interrupted.

  The present invention is not limited to the example described above. In particular, the strip 4 provided for controlling the treatment or operating process of the washing machine 1 and for controlling the means for transferring the products to the compartment of the latter could be replaced by an electromechanical or electronic programmer which would be adapted to supply a succession of identical control signals at predetermined times during the operating process of the washing machine 1 that it would generate, this succession possibly

furthermore be programmable.

  The present invention can also be applied to a washing machine with several compartments, and to all other

  product processing machines into which one wishes to intro

  add treatment products, liquids or others.

  Many other embodiments and uses of the invention are possible without departing from the framework defined by the

appended claims.

Claims (9)

  1 Method for supplying at least one compartment of a treatment machine with doses of different treatment products, in particular of a compartment (2) of washing machine (1) with laundry in doses of different liquid treatment products (8) linen, in which each product is supplied using a particular transfer means (17) and in which the machine is subjected to an operating process, characterized in that it consists in generating, at times predetermined during the processing process, a control signal each time identical, to associate with the succession of identical control signals a program for selective control of said transfer means (17) and to selectively control, in accordance with said program, the means for transfer as the signals appear   during the operation of the machine.   2 Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists in associating with the succession of identical control signals, several programs for selective control of the transfer means, in selecting one of these programs, and in controlling selectively, in accordance with the chosen program, the transfer means as the control signals appear during the operating process of the machine.   3 Method according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized by the fact that it consists in counting the control signals and in memorizing the number of control signals which have appeared   from the start of the machine operating process.   4 Method according to any one of claims   above, characterized in that it consists in controlling each of the transfer means so that they provide   predetermined volumetric quantities of product.   Feeding device for processing   the method according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises 1 l means (28, 29) for generating a control signal at predetermined times during the operating process of the machine, means for memorizing (26) a control program selective transfer means (17), and control means (25) connected to said means (28, 29) successively generating a control signal and said storage means (26) and selectively controlling said means   transfer (17) of products in accordance with the stored program.   6 Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said storage means (26) are adapted to store several control programs and that it further comprises selection means (27) for selecting one of these programs.   7 Device according to one of claims 5 and 6,   characterized by the fact that it comprises means (30) for counting and memorizing the number of control signals generated from the start of the machine operating process, these means being connected to the program memorization means (26) and to the   control means (25) mentioned above.   8 Device according to any one of claims   7, characterized in that each transfer means comprises a flow meter (21) for measuring the volume of product supplied to the machine.   9 Device according to any one of claims   8, characterized in that it comprises programming means (31) making it possible to constitute the programs for selective control of the transfer means and / or to fix the quantities   volumetric treatment products to be supplied.   10 Device according to any one of claims   to 9, characterized in that the means for controlling the operating process of the machine comprise a perforated strip (4), said means for generating a control signal comprising detection means (28) for perforations made in said strip and aligned (30) in the   direction of travel of this strip.